Influence of methylfenpropidine on growth, sterol content and fatty acid composition ofCandida albicans

The effect of methylfenpropidine on growth, lipid contents, sterol and fatty acid composition was investigated in 5 strains ofCandida albicans. The sensitivity of the strains decreased in the order: wild strains >erg ⁺ ade nys ^R >ade nys ^R erg (defective Δ⁸⁻⁷-isomerase) >ade nys ^R erg (defective Δ⁵-desaturase). The presence of the inhibitor influenced fecosterol isomerization, episterol dehydrogenation, zymosterol transmethylation, ignosterol reduction and squalene epoxidation. Methylfenpropidine also induced changes in fatty acid composition, causing a reduction of the palmitic and oleic acid content with a concomitant elevation of stearic, linoleic and linolenic acid levels. The lipid unsaturation index slightly increased. Morphological changes of wild strains were observed after the fungicide treatment.